Scholarships for secondary teaching degrees

Frequently asked questions

• How much is each payment and when will students get them?

  Eligible undergraduate students who commence a Victorian secondary school teaching degree will receive $9,600 across their 4-year (FTE) ITE program and $8,400 during their first 2 years of teaching in a government secondary or specialist school setting, for a total of approximately $18,000.

  Eligible postgraduate students who undertake a Victorian secondary school teaching degree will receive $5,700 across their 2-year (FTE) ITE program and $3,300 during their first 2 years of teaching in a government secondary or specialist school setting for a total of approximately $9,000.

  The total paid to both undergraduates (approximately $18,000) and postgraduates (approximately $9,000) who complete a secondary school teaching degree and work for 2 years in government secondary or specialist school settings will match the student cost of a Commonwealth Supported Place in a teaching degree.

• Who is eligible for a scholarship?

  All Victorian students (including Victoria-based permanent residents) who enrol in an accredited secondary school teaching degree with a Victorian initial teacher education provider in 2024 and 2025 will be eligible for a scholarship. This will include students undertaking a dual primary/secondary qualification.

  To be eligible for the secondary school ITE scholarships from 1 January 2024 and for 2025, you must be:

  • a Victorian resident domestic student. For the purposes of this scholarship, this is defined as:
    • an Australian citizen
    • a New Zealand citizen (or dual citizenship holders of either Australia or New Zealand)
    • an Australian permanent resident, or
    • an Australian permanent humanitarian visa holder.
  • enrolled in a Victorian, approved (VIT-accredited) program of study to obtain your first secondary school initial teacher education (ITE) qualification
    • Information about accredited education provider campuses and programs of study is available on the Victorian Institute of Teaching’s website (Education for those who wish to become teachers | Victorian Institute of Teaching (vit.vic.edu.au))
  • a new student commencing your first year between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2025 (students who start an initial teacher education program of study before 1 January 2024 or after 31 December 2025 are not eligible)
  • a Victorian resident or resident of a VIC-NSW or VIC-SA border community prior to, and during, completion of an accredited ITE program of study
  • Upon completion of the program of study, to remain eligible for the additional $8,400 (undergraduate) or additional $3,300 (postgraduate) scholarship payment, you must be:
    • employed in a Victorian government secondary or specialist school setting in the year immediately following completion of your ITE qualification
    • committed to teach in a Victorian government secondary or specialist school setting for at least 2 years at a minimum 0.8 EFT or equivalent pro rata.

• Who is not eligible for a scholarship?

  Students who started their registered ITE secondary teaching qualifications before 1 January 2024 or after 31 December 2025 are not eligible. Scholarships are available for new enrolments commencing their accredited ITE program of study between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2025 only.

  Students who are not Victorian residents and/or do not reside in Victoria (or in a border community) during completion of their program of study are not eligible.

  The following Local Government areas are in the Victorian cross-border community: Please note that eligibility for the scholarship is dependent on undertaking a Victorian ITE qualification and placements and employment in a Victorian government secondary or specialist school setting.

  New South Wales

  • Balranald Shire
  • Bega Valley Shire
  • Berrigan Shire
  • City of Albury
  • City of Broken Hill
  • City of Wagga Wagga
  • Edward River Council
  • Federation Council
  • Greater Hume Shire
  • Hay Shire
  • Lockhart Shire
  • Murray River Council
  • Murrumbidgee Council
  • Snowy Monaro Regional Council
  • Snowy Valleys Council
  • Wentworth Shire

  Note: The Silver City Highway between the Broken Hill and Wentworth Local Government Areas is part of the NSW-Victoria border bubble.

  South Australia

  • Berri Barmera Council
  • City of Mount Gambier
  • District Council of Grant
  • District Council of Loxton Waikerie
  • District Council of Robe
  • Kingston District Council
  • Naracoorte Lucindale Council
  • Renmark Paringa Council
  • Southern Mallee District Council
  • Tatiara District Council
  • Wattle Range Council

• How do students apply for a scholarship?

  To receive a scholarship, students will be required to provide proof of enrolment and place of residence for their first semester of study and for each subsequent year of study.

  The first round of additional scholarship payments associated with employment in a Victorian government secondary or specialist school setting will not be available until 2026. Further information will be provided on the application process for these additional payments in due course.

  More detailed information about how scholarship payments will be made to eligible students will be available in late 2023.

• At what point do they receive payments?

  Eligible Victorian secondary school teaching degree students will receive initial payments while they are studying. The payments can be used to assist with the cost of studying and the cost of living. This will help support the next generation of secondary school teachers to get through university.

  Recipients of the scholarships who teach in Victorian government secondary or specialist school settings after they graduate will continue to receive scholarship payments for the first 2 years of their employment in Victorian government secondary or specialist school settings.

• What do the payments cover?

  The scholarships support students with the cost of studying and living. For students who work for 2 years in a government secondary or specialist school setting, the total scholarship and payment amount (approximately $18,000 for an undergraduate degree and approximately $9,000 for a postgraduate degree) will cover the standard HELP fees charged by the Commonwealth Government.

• Are part-time students eligible?

  If you choose to study a secondary teaching ITE qualification part-time, you are eligible for the scholarship if you meet all other eligibility criteria and providing the part-time study is at least a minimum of 0.5 Equivalent Full-time Study Load.

  Eligible students studying part-time in a 3- or 4-year degree program are only eligible to receive $3,300 each year for the first 3 years of study up to a maximum of $9,600.

  Eligible students studying part-time in a 2-year degree are only eligible to receive $2,850 each year for the first 2 years of study up to a maximum of $5,700.

  If you do not obtain employment in a Victorian government secondary or specialist school setting within 12 months of study completion or by 30 June 2029, whichever is earliest, you will not be eligible for the final scholarship payment.

• Can students change education providers during their studies?

  $9,600 for undergraduate students and $5,700 for postgraduate students are the maximum amounts individuals can receive while undertaking their Victorian secondary school teaching degrees. If you move between universities, you will still be eligible for this scholarship component providing you continue to meet the eligibility criteria and the education provider and course you move to are eligible under the scholarship initiative.

• Can you change courses but remain at the same university and still be eligible for the scholarship?

  If you move to another course at the same university, you will be subject to the maximum scholarship amount of $9,600 for undergraduate students and $5,700 for postgraduate students, as long as you continue to meet the eligibility criteria.

• Can a student take a leave of absence?

  Universities may provide a Leave of Absence period to enable students who are experiencing extenuating circumstances in their personal or academic life (e.g., significant financial, emotional, medical, employment or study related difficulties). Individuals should contact their university to discuss their individual circumstances and to request a Leave of Absence.

  The only breaks in study accepted under the scholarship are where an individual has an approved Leave of Absence from their education provider for compassionate reasons. Whilst a student is on a Leave of Absence period, they will not be eligible for the scholarship payments, however the Leave of Absence will not impact the student’s scholarship eligibility once they recommence studies providing, they continue to meet all of the eligibility criteria.

• How much is an average teaching degree at a Victorian University? Will this payment offset a student’s entire HECS fees?

  Teaching degrees are already partially subsidised under the Commonwealth Government as a priority course. If you are awarded a Commonwealth Supported Place, the Commonwealth Government pays a portion of your degree and the student contributes the remaining cost, known as the ‘student contribution amount’. In 2023, the student contribution amount for an education degree is $4,124 a year.

  The scholarships cover this gap cost for students who complete their degree and work in a government secondary school for 2 years.

• Will students need to pay for fees or apply for HECS-HELP?

  Students are responsible for enrolling and organising associated payments to their chosen university by the due date. This includes HECS-FELP loan and any proposed deferrals or up-front payments.

• Are international or interstate students eligible?

  No. These payments are available to all new Victorian domestic students (including eligible border community students) enrolling in a secondary teaching degree in 2024 and 2025.

  Domestic students include:

  • an Australian citizen; or
  • an Australian permanent resident; or
  • an Australian permanent humanitarian visa holder; or
  • a New Zealand citizen (or dual citizenship holders of either Australia or New Zealand).

  In addition to meeting the above criteria, you must also reside in Victoria (or a recognized Victorian border community) and attend a university with a campus located in Victoria.

• Are people in ITE employment-based programs also eligible for the other scholarships?

  Yes. Students who enrol in an ITE employment-based program, for example a Teach Today or Teach Tomorrow program can also access the scholarships to help them with the cost of studying and living.

• Are primary teaching students eligible for this scholarship?

  No, unless you are enrolled in a Pri/Sec dual degree program. At a statewide level, demand for teachers is currently more pressing across secondary and specialist than primary school settings, so the scholarships aim to increase our workforce where it is most needed. There are a range of initiatives available to support the primary school teaching workforce, including rural and regional placements payments and the extension of Teaching Academies of Professional Practice (TAPPS), the Teacher Financial Incentives and the Career Start initiative.

• How can students access the scholarships?

  The first step is to apply for place in a secondary teaching degree in 2024 or 2025. Once you have been accepted and enrolled in a secondary teaching degree, you will become eligible for the scholarships, and you can apply for the scholarship payments. Further details will be on the department’s website.